90min

Sampdoria vs Milan Preview: How to Watch on TV, Live Stream, Kick Off Time & Team News

By Grey Whitebloom

Milan celebrate their opening goal against Atalanta
Milan celebrate their opening goal against Atalanta / BSR Agency/Getty Images
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Sampdoria host an in-form Milan side on Wednesday night for their final home game of the Serie A season.

Claudio Ranieri's Sampdoria ensured their survival with four games to spare after a resurgent end to the season. A midsummer pocket of form was enough to provide a comfortable conclusion to a tumultuous campaign - a scenario which seemed unthinkable after spending the first 12 weeks of the season in the relegation zone.

Claudio Ranieri has steered Sampdoria clear of the drop in the 20th managerial role of his career
Claudio Ranieri has steered Sampdoria clear of the drop in the 20th managerial role of his career / Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images

Milan have enjoyed their own recovery which began when the sides last met in the first week of January for an entertaining 0-0 draw. The powers that be recognised the magnitude of this turnaround by recently rewarding manager Stefano Pioli with a new two-year deal.

The Rosseneri are guaranteed a top seven finish but can confirm at least ending the campaign as high as sixth place with a win on Wednesday.

Where to Watch on TV

When Is Kick Off? Wednesday 28 July
What Time Is Kick Off? 18:30 (BST)
Where Is it Played? Stadio Luigi Ferraris
TV Channel/Live Stream? Premier Sports 1, LiveScore App (UK), ESPN+ (US)

Team News

Milan captain Alessio Romagnoli missed the team's last match with a calf injury which has ruled him out of the Sampdoria fixture
Milan captain Alessio Romagnoli missed the team's last match with a calf injury which has ruled him out of the Sampdoria fixture / Claudio Villa/Getty Images

Sampdoria's 2-0 defeat to Juventus last time out ended prematurely for Morten Thorsby after being dismissed for a second yellow card. Alongside the suspended Norway international, fellow midfielder Albin Ekdal and forward Felice D'Amico will miss the clash through injury.

Milan's key players Ismaël Bennacer and Theo Hernández were suspended for the team's last outing against Atalanta but both should return for the midweek fixture. However, the defensive trio of Andrea Conti, Mateo Musacchio and their instrumental captain Alessio Romagnoli are expected to be absent.

Predicted Lineups

Sampdoria: Audero; Bereszynski, Yoshida, Chabot, Augello; Depaoli, Linetty, Vieira, Jankto; Ramírez; Quagliarella.

Milan: Donnarumma; Calabria, Kjaer, Gabbia, Hernández; Kessie, Bennacer; Saelemaekers, Calhanoglu, Rebic; Ibrahimovic.

Recent Form

Sampdoria's top flight status has been assured thanks to a run of five wins from their first six games of July - as many as they managed between November and June. Admittedly, once they were clear of the drop, Ranieri's side have slumped to consecutive defeats to their bitter rivals Genoa and then Juve.

Hakan Calhanoglu (L) celebrates his opener against Atalanta, his fifth goal since Italian football returned in June
Hakan Calhanoglu (L) celebrates his opener against Atalanta, his fifth goal since Italian football returned in June / Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

Milan have been in stunning form since the restart - alongside Atalanta, they are one of only two teams yet to taste defeat in Serie A behind closed doors - but this unbeaten run has merely been a continuation of an impressive 2020.

Since their 5-0 loss to Atalanta in the final game before the winter break, only the Bergamo side and this season's champions Juventus can better their league record in the new year.

Here's how each team has fared in their last five outings.

Sampdoria

Juventus 2-0 Sampdoria (26/7)
Sampdoria 1-2 Genoa (22/7)
Parma 2-3 Sampdoria (19/7)
Sampdoria 3-0 Cagliari (15/7)
Udinese 1-3 Sampdoria (12/7)

Milan

Milan 1-1 Atalanta (24/7)
Sassuolo 1-2 Milan (21/7)
Milan 5-1 Bologna (18/7)
Milan 3-1 Parma (15/7)
Napoli 2-2 Milan (12/7)

Prediction

Ranieri looks on as his Sampdoria side record the victory against Parma which would ultimately confirm their survival
Ranieri looks on as his Sampdoria side record the victory against Parma which would ultimately confirm their survival / Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images

Sampdoria's spirited display against Juventus emphatically contradicts the notion that Ranieri's side are already diligently monitoring the specific health guidelines for various exotic destinations.

However, this Milan side bristling with confidence may very well be too strong even if Samp's squad gives the encounter its undivided attention.

Milan are yet to suffer defeat in a stadium other than San Siro in 2020 and that run does not look as though it will end at a Luigi Ferraris devoid of the typically raucous atmosphere the Sampdoria faithful would undoubtedly provide for such an occasion.

Prediction: Sampdoria 1-3 Milan

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